Bergen County awarded more than $11M in FEMA and HUD grants

WASHINGTON — Sens. Robert Menendez and Jeffrey Chiesa and Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. announced more than $17 million from two federal grant programs Thursday, including $1.3 million to reimburse Paramus for cleaning up debris left by Superstorm Sandy and more than $8 million for economic development programs in Bergen County.

The grants announced by Menendez and Chiesa, totaling $6.3 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), included:

--- $1.3 million to Paramus for loading, hauling and disposal of debris left by Sandy.

--- $3.7 million to the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management for grants-processing expenses.

--- $1.3 million to the New Jersey Department of Human resources to repair four parking lots damaged by Sandy.

The grants announced by Pascrell, from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, totaled nearly $11 million for Bergen County communities, including:

--- $8.4 million to help improve economic development.

--- $1.9 million to increase availability of affordable housing for low-income families.

--- Nearly $600,000 to increase the number and improve the quality of emergency homeless shelters.

“Whether it’s for a county government repairing public facilities, or Jersey Shore communities rebuilding storm-damaged boardwalks, every bit of Sandy relief moves New Jersey forward in our recovery from the storm,” said Menendez. “These resources help our communities continue recouping the substantial costs incurred during and after Superstorm Sandy,” Chiesa said.

“This federal investment in Bergen County will help provide affordable housing to families while spurring economic growth,” Pascrell said. "Keeping families in their homes is a key to our economic recovery and essential to preserving the core of our communities and neighborhoods.”